The next generation fighter for the HCSAF, the F-45C, has successfully carried out it's maiden flight on Cloneworld. The C, in reality a total redesign of the F-45A, is still a long way from production. Current forecasts are for the first deliveries in late 2113 with the carrierborne F-45K in 2114.
The current prototype is using a modified control and avionics suite from the F-45A, next year the first builds of the C control system will be installed. A full rigourous flight test programme will then be carried out until the arrival of the pre-production models in 2111 or 2112. This is the biggest programme currently in the HCS with the F-45C/K expected to be the backbone of HCSAF and HCSNAS airpower well into the 2120s.
